CRUZE BANISHES PAST CHEVROLET DEMONS

By John Turley-Ewart - I have a bias about compact Chevrolets. I blame it on the Cavalier I had the misfortune to own. To be precise, it was a 1985 four-door Cavalier produced when General Motors equated compact with disposable rather than durable.

I have not been in a GM compact sedan since -- bidding a happy adieu to the Cavalier some 20 years ago -- until this week when I had the opportunity to drive the new Chevy Cruze, destined for Canadian showrooms at the end of the month.

This Korean-designed, German-engineered, American-assembled, front-wheel-drive Chevy is said by GM officials to be a departure for the reborn brand.

It is a product of the "new" GM, a globally integrated company with a strategy to "build the best cars in the world," according to Kevin Williams, president of GM Canada.

Williams says the Cruze is "the most important car in GM's history." He believes this because the Cruze is what he calls the "proof point" that the new GM can build better compact cars and deliver more value than rivals such as Honda, Toyota and Mazda.

To that end, GM officials point to the fact that before going on sale in Canada, the Cruze "logged more than six million kilometres in quality and durability testing world-wide." GM further says that the Cruze is assembled using "the latest in body framing and welding equipment" which means, according to the automaker, "a better-looking car when new and one that feels solid for years to come."

The Cruze, then, is really a test of how much has changed at GM.

This car comes in five different trim levels -- the base LS starting at an impressive and economical $14,995, which includes 10 air bags, 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual and a raft of standard features value-conscious consumers will appreciate.

I drove the more upmarket LT Turbo ($19,495) and LTZ Turbo ($24,798), both powered by a spirited turbo-charged 1.4L four-cylinder with an estimated 138 horse-power and impressive 148 pound-feet of torque. While the official fuel economy figures are not in yet, GM is confident the 1.4L will deliver 5.0 L/100 kilometres on the highway.

Distinctive curb candy the Cruze is not. It bears a resemblance to the 2011 Volkswagen Jetta, with a bit of Chevy Malibu mixed in. Yet this is not a bad thing for a car with a starting price of less than $15,000. Its lines are clean, modern and athletic if not original. The cut of the car, however, is appealing. The downward slope of the front hood and the arched back project the Cruze's ambition. The look is best completed in the LTZ, which has the RS appearance package. This tightens the car's lines and enhances the front end's aggressive expression.

The Cruze's cabin was a surprise. It seems Chevrolet has decided the real differentiator for the Cruze is the experience delivered by the modern dual cockpit that is the signature piece of this car. Frankly, it looks good and it can be as low tech or high tech as you want, depending on the options chosen. And, yes, there is still some cheap plastic, but there is also much to commend.

In the LT model, the interior is a nice mix of black and red -- with red cloth panels in the doors and on the passenger dash -- an improvement over large swaths of hard plastic that might otherwise fill these spaces. On the LTZ, the interior is an elegant mix of black and tan; only the door inserts in the doors and on the passenger dash are leather, as are the seats.

Controls for the radio and temperature are intuitive and easy to reach. Textures, colours, cabin room, the ergonomics and the clear sightlines give the LT and LTZ the feeling of being in a larger, more expensive car.

For taller folks -- those five-foot-10 and up -- there may be saome cause for caution. The front bucket seats, while good, may be a tad bit short in leg support. For those in the back seat and sitting behind a tall driver or passenger, the search for extra legroom may also prove challenging -- but this is a challenge for just about all compacts.

I didn't have a chance to test the base 1.8L engine. The LT and LTZ were both powered by the Ecotec 1.4L turbo, which proved to be a feisty engine that delivered a solid performance. It generated enough power to comfortably pass other vehicles on the highway, it offered smooth acceleration with enough pep to get the adrenalin flowing and it projected some pleasing turbo-twang too. What completed the package, however, was the solid road feel. The electric rack-and-pinion steering and suspension work wonderfully together. I felt connected to the road in the Cruze.

For a compact, economical car, the Cruze is an impressive performer, combining safety features, fuel economy, performance and value in a package that is certainly worth considering if you are in the compact car market.

The interior defines the experience and the 1.4L engine makes for confident driving. Only time will tell how durable it is. But, on first impression, the Cruze is not the Chevy of my youth -- and that is a good thing.